PhilHealth, LTO, DFA and PSA Offices in Metro Manila Closed on November 16 to 18 for the 49th ASEAN Summit
GOVERNMENT OFFICES CLOSED NOVEMBER 16 TO 18 – Planning to process a document or claim a government service in Metro Manila this week? Several national government agencies have announced that their offices in the National Capital Region (NCR) will be closed from Monday to Wednesday, November 16 to 18, 2026, the special non-working days declared for the 49th ASEAN Summit.
The closures follow Proclamation No. 1447, which Malacañang issued in September to ease traffic and let authorities secure the leaders and delegates attending the summit and related meetings. On Sunday, Daily Tribune reported that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is the latest agency to suspend its NCR operations, joining the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
List of Government Offices Closed in Metro Manila on November 16 to 18, 2026
Here are the agencies that have announced closures of their NCR offices, based on their official advisories and news reports:
- PhilHealth – All PhilHealth offices in Metro Manila will suspend operations for the three days. The state health insurer said its hotlines and callback channel will remain open 24/7 for members’ questions. The suspension covers NCR offices only.
- LTO-NCR – All LTO-NCR regional, district and extension offices, as well as licensing centers, will be closed from November 16 to 18, according to the LTO-NCR holiday advisory.
- DFA consular offices – The DFA’s Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) in Aseana, the DoubleDragon releasing units, and its five NCR consular offices (NCR Central, NCR North, NCR Northeast, NCR South and NCR West) are closed. Regular consular operations resume on November 19, INQUIRER.net reported.
- PSA – Operations of all PSA Civil Registry System (CRS) outlets in NCR are suspended from November 16 to 18. Regular operations resume on Thursday, November 19, the agency said in a public advisory.
Where To Go for Urgent Transactions
Some agencies are offering alternatives while their offices are closed:
- Passport and consular concerns (DFA) – Applicants who need emergency or urgent consular help may email [email protected] for passport matters, [email protected] for authentication or Apostille, [email protected] for visas, [email protected] for civil registry matters, and [email protected] for general consular questions.
- Birth, marriage and death certificates (PSA) – Civil registry documents may still be requested online through the authorized platforms PSA Serbilis (psaserbilis.com.ph) and PSAHelpline.ph, or through walk-in requests at accredited PSA Batch Request System (BREQS) partners, including SM Business Partners.
- PhilHealth – Members may use the PhilHealth hotlines and callback channel, which stay open 24/7 during the closure.
Other Changes During the ASEAN Summit Holidays
Motorists also get a break: the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has suspended the number coding scheme in Metro Manila from November 16 to 18, so vehicles may use the roads regardless of plate number, GMA News reported. However, the MMDA warned of brief stop-and-go traffic as convoys of heads of state pass, and advised motorists and truckers to use alternative routes from November 15 to 18, especially around Roxas Boulevard. Security exclusion zones around the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) are in effect until November 18.
Taxpayers in Metro Manila were also given more time to file and pay, as the BIR moved affected deadlines to November 19. Many banks are also keeping only selected branches open, so check the bank schedules for November 16 to 18 before you go.
Since the three days are special non-working days only in NCR, government offices outside Metro Manila are not covered by the proclamation. Private employees who report for work in NCR on these dates are entitled to holiday premium pay under DOLE rules. Have you read our guide on the ASEAN Summit holiday pay rules?
